Ashes rivals form unlikely alliance over a common enemy in the form of DRS
Tim Paine has been vocal across the MCG Test in his disquiet over the vagaries of the decision review system. He is not alone. Or the first. A fierce rival started the conversation during the last Ashes.
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Tim Paine lacks trust in the Decision Review System but it was England’s Ashes hero Ben Stokes who first put the technology on the agenda.
With Australia leading the epic Headingley Test by one run, Stokes appeared to be trapped plumb lbw by Nathan Lyon. Umpire Joel Wilson turned down the appeal and ball tracking would’ve overturned the decision … if Paine hadn’t burnt all of his reviews.
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Stokes was certain that would’ve been a mistake.
“DRS has got that completely wrong,” he said. “It flicked my front pad first and didn’t spin. It shows how crucial it is to make sure you use your reviews.
“If they had one they would have used it and ended up winning. I still cannot believe it was three reds.”
Kerry O’Keeffe reckons it’s time we use three umpires – instead of two – for every Test, so that they can each spend a session off the field each day.
That rest would provide a boost to concentration levels.
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It might be Travis Head’s 26th birthday today, but perhaps it should be the No. 6 batsman buying Trent Copeland a gift.
The ace New South Wales bowler and rising TV analyst put together a video package for Channel 7 highlighting that Head was struggling to transfer his weight through the ball while batting in Perth.
Well, Australian coach Justin Langer requested that footage and Head got to work with coach Tim Nielson between Tests. The result? A gutsy Boxing Day century that has vice-captain Head firmly locked into Australia’s middle order.
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Tickets to The Boundary Social might fetch a high price ($195), but Cricket Australia’s answer at the MCG to the splish, slash pools at Perth Stadium and the Gabba is fast becoming a hotbed for celebrities and fans who want the best seat in the house.
Any punter is welcome to the revamped Bay 13 – it’s not a corporate area – and around 240 people have rubbed shoulders with the stars each day.
The guest list has included footy guns Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood), Michael Hurley and Zach Merrett (Essendon), Marc Murphy (Carlton) and St Kilda guns Jack Billings, Jarryn Geary, Dylan Roberton and Jack Lonie.
Even English actor Lily James – who starred in Baby Driver – funny man Andy Lee, Australian netballers Jo Weston and Tegan Philip and Olympian Anabelle Smith have wandered through. The schmick area replaced Bay 13 simply because that’s the part of the ‘G that cops the most sun.
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It’s been a case of no lights, camera and action at the ‘G this Test.
The ground’s $11 million upgrade of its light towers is being completed, but the sunny skies have meant there’s been no need to switch any on for Boxing Day.
Two of the six light towers have changed over to LED sports lights and the remaining four will be converted before the Women’s T20 World Cup final on March 8.
The new LED sports lights will reduce flickering during super-slomo replays and enhance colours as they are captured by TV cameras.
Richmond residents will also be glad to know the significant reduction of light heads in each tower will also reduce light spills.
The MCG light towers were first erected in 1984, using technology from 1959, and the upgrade will slash energy consumption.
The bill for one hour of illumination from one light tower used to be about $400. On December 3, 1984 the lights were first turned on by former premier John Cain, who died this week.